fication of “prehypertension” is a systolic pressure between 120–139
and diastolic between 80–89 mm Hg.
To make matters worse, most patients are prescribed medication
for hypertension without seeking the cause of the problem. And, most
patients are not given appropriate diet and lifestyle guidelines that
may reduce their blood pressure to the point where medication may
no longer be needed.
Among the problems that may contribute to hypertension is car-
bohydrate intolerance due to its influence of raising insulin levels.
During the Two-Week Test it was recommended that, if your blood
pressure is high, have it evaluated before, during and after the Test.
That’s because for many people, significantly reducing refined carbo-
hydrates and sugars, which reduces insulin levels, will reduce blood
pressure — often dramatically. As a result, if you’re taking medication
to control blood pressure, your doctor may need to reduce, or even
eliminate it.
The vast majority of hypertensive patients I initially saw in prac-
tice were able to reduce their blood pressure significantly just by
strictly avoiding refined carbohydrates and sugars, especially when
easy aerobic exercise was implemented. Most of these patients were
able to eliminate their medication. Other important factors include
balancing fats, various nutrients that can be obtained from a healthy
diet, and controlling stress.
Poor aerobic conditioning can also contribute to hypertension.
Recall that those who are inactive have a significant amount of blood
vessels shut down (these are the vessels in the aerobic muscle fibers).
Aerobic exercise is an important factor in both prevention and treat-
ment of hypertension. Even one easy aerobic workout can reduce
blood pressure for up to 24 hours. Anaerobic exercise may not be
nearly as effective and could even aggravate high blood pressure. It’s
important to discuss your particular exercise needs with a health-care
professional — especially one who is aware of the potential benefits
of food, nutrition and exercise.
Other dietary factors that can prevent or help hypertension
include eating sufficient amounts of vegetables and fruits. When cer-
tain nutrients are low, such as calcium and vitamins A and C, the
322 • IN FITNESS AND IN HEALTH